YVONNE McKeon and Lindsey Peirce, from Pershore Bowling Club, celebrated winning Worcestershire Over-60s Ladies Pairs competition after entering the county competition for the first time.
It was an emotional win for McKeon, the club’s Ladies captain, who lost her husband at the start of the year and was wearing his bowling cap for the final at Cripplegate Bowling Club in Worcester.
Having progressed through three early rounds, McKeon and Peirce proved too strong for a Barbourne pair in the semi-finals, and then repeated the winning momentum against another Barbourne duo to win 16-12 and ensure the title remained at Pershore for a second year.
Angela Taylor and Alison Cartwright were the winners in 2016.
“It was an emotional final,” said McKeon. “I lost my husband John , who was a very keen bowler, and as Ladies Captain this year a lot of what I’ve been doing has been with John in mind.
“It was the first time either myself or Lindsey had entered the competition. There were ten bowlers from Pershore who had entered so we thought we would have a go.
“We certainly never expected to win. We were surprised just to get through the first match.”
Twelve ladies from Pershore entered the competition with four going through to the semi-finals to play four from Barbourne.
Pam Harris and Jenny Page also got to the last four but were edged out in the final end.
Many ladies from Pershore turned up to support McKeon and Peirce in their final and they said that made a huge difference.
“It felt like we had huge support, with the ladies who had played and those who had come from Pershore,” added McKeon.
Joyce Lamb, President of Worcester County Ladies, presented the cup.
Pershore continue their quest for success this weekend when six ladies play in the Women’s National Championships at Leamington Spa following the Worcester County Triples Competition.
They are Pam Harris, Angela Taylor and Julie Howell and Alison Cartwright, Carole Ellsmore and Jenny Page who won the county event.
Cartwright is also playing in the Two Wood final at the Championships.